Notes on the Eighteenth Maria-sama ga Miteru Novel, Part 5 - Final

3

"Excuse me." At the rear gates of Lillian Jogakuen someone called out to Kashiwagi Suguru.

"Yes." He turned around to look over his shoulder smoothly, with the sensation that not only was he aware that he had been spoken to, but also that he was making time for that person. The kind of person who would sometimes he would answer a religious solicitation with a smile, who would say "I have time" and provide a gentle smile, that would never mean any real harm.

"Um...you're going to the Lillian School Festival, right." The one who had called out was middle-aged man.

"Yes, I am."

That road that continued on was a straight path to the rear gates of Lillian Jogakuen. To have said, "You're mistaken" would have been unnatural.

"Do you by any chance have an extra ticket...."

As the man inquired timidly, Kashiwagi watched him with deep interest. You could say that this man had considerable character.

"I do have an extra." Kashiwagi answered this, because he didn't think that the man who in front of him looked like a scalper.

His fashion was that of an ordinary salaryman, the kind one might see on the morning commuter train, going to work, wearing a somber colored suit. Proper for a well- dressed middle aged man, owing to his tall physique. Like a boss of a supermarket or an ad agency kind of guy.

(Nikkou and Gakkou would look small comparatively. ...pretty fairly.)

But the fact that he was "big" was not the only reason he stood out. The bag he held in his arms was a mismatch with the salaryman look, the item inside was likely to draw attention.

"That extra ticket, won't you hand it over?"

When the conversation came to that point, Kashiwagi wanted to ask, "why?" It was too simple to just say, "yes, take it", he wanted a reason to rescue him or he wouldn't do it.

"I want to see my daughter."

"You want, to see your daughter?"

That seemed strange.

"I understand. It's not believable, is it? If your daughter attends Lillian, why didn't you receive a ticket, is what you're thinking, right. But, I am truly her father. I'm not suspicious."

"No. I don't know your daughter, it's indescribable.... Just, if you are willing to tell me what's going on, then I won't be sorry to say that you look more like a worried father than a suspicious person."

Kashiwagi was thinking as he spoke. Then this tall man with the air of a salaryman, at "a suspicious person" shook his head back and forth vigorously.

"No...I'm not a good father."

"I don't know why but I understand. From house to house there are many circumstances one doesn't hear about and one doesn't inquire. But, if I give you a ticket, something could happen that would cause problems. Can you show me something that is proof of your position?"

"Like a license?" The man searched in his suit pocket, pulling out his driver's license, then passing it to Kashiwagi.

"That's fine. Thank you very much. You came here specifically from Niigata today," Kashiwagi said, returning the license. His eye had accidentally come to rest on the address column.

"Yes. Last year I inherited my father's farm in my old hometown."

This self-styled "Not a suspicious person" who had changed to "not a good father" put the license back in his pocket, resettled the large bag he carried obliquely across his shoulder and chest with a "here we go."

"It seems heavy." Kashiwagi murmured thoughtfully.

"Hahaha. Yeah, But, I'm used to it. Like a second person, ....it's pretty blank though." As if to say I see, his glance turned forward. Today was the day of the high school festival.

"Well then."

Kashiwagi pulled a ticket out of his pocket. Moving the first ticket out of the way, he spread the remaining eleven like a pack of cards.

"Take whichever one you want."

"Eh-" Seeing so many, the man was clearly surprised.

"D, do you have some relation to this school."

No, no, Kashiwagi smiled brightly. "I attend the university next door. I'm just fortunate to have gotten presents from so many people. I can only use one ticket, so I feel sorry for the rest of them. Please, don't hold back."

"...Yeah."

As he hesitatingly pulled the one on the end out, Kashiwagi said to "Father" "Won't you take another one?" with a serious gaze.

"Huh?"

Kashiwagi pointed a finger at "Father's" chest with a strange look on his face. "No, I guess a baby doesn't count as a person."


4


"Hey, Yumi-san. Hold your frankfurter up and smile."

Ka-sha.

"Yoshino-san, hold a bowl of oden out, like you're saying "here" then look this way. Ah, I'd like a little more of an "over there" expression. Okay, Tsutako-san is pressing the shutter."

Kasha. Kasha

"Um, you know, are you asking us to fake it?"

Yumi had been acting as the ticket cashier's assistant for a long time without a break, so it was natural that Yamaguchi Mami from the newspaper club and Takeshima Tsutako from the camera club would come and, standing in front of Yoshino-san's food cart, take a lot of pictures in a variety of poses. Since the wave of people had just receded, they had come just when there was some space in front of the frankfurter and oden sections. Nothing was different, except if you thought about them as poses.

However, there was Mami-san.

"What are you saying, Yumi-san? If we took pictures of you carrying Sakuraitei aprons, then that would be faking something. But, this is just our class doing the jobs are class is doing. Where's the problem."

"That's it."

"Yeah."

Rosa Chinensis en bouton and Rosa Foetida en bouton met each other's eyes.

"But our classes program is a festival, and if we didn't have pictures of the two of you selling food tickets, the readers of the "Lillian Kawaraban" would never forgive us. Okay, next, the oshiroko corner."

"Tsutako-saaan." Say something, save me, the look on her face said, but she didn't lower her camera.

"I'm just doing this as a favor for Mami-san, that's all. Well, whether the paper uses a photo or not will be a two-way conversation, won't it?"

"As you say. Objections will be accepted afterwards. We're busy. All of the second- year classes and running back and forth collecting valuable information for the newspaper on the culture clubs, we can't do it all. Ah- Shimako-san, stop. I'm sorry but, can you go back to the yo-yo stand for thirty seconds so we can take a picture. Ah, Rosa Gigantea in yukata will be absolutely great."

Her shift over, Shimako-san was pulled back forcibly into the "Fujimatsu Village," to hold a yo-yo in her hand and have however many (You said you were taking one) pictures taken, after which they, with the air of the Editor in Chief of the
"Lillian Kawaraban" and the ace of the Photography Club, left the "Fujimatsu Village."

"That was so not good."

"What the heck was with their mood today."

With an exclamation of relief, that also busy person, Shimako-san, returned to the entrance of the village and passed by in front of their eyes with Noriko-chan. From there, Shimako-san had changed into street clothes, after which the two of them were going to walk around the festival.

"Good work. We'll see you later." The two soeur innocently waved their hands in a farewell. Noriko-chan said, "Thank you for the frankfurter," in thanks.

"You're welcome." It seems that Touko-chan had passed along the food ticket.

"Well then, let's keep going with a shout."

The legitimate number of working hours until noon was thirty minutes. But the period of time just before and after noon were expected to be the most crowded, so they dug in feet.

"Oden, sweet sake, frankfurters and sweets are all good."

"The Fujimatsu Village is right this way."

Two guys in clothes that seemed to shimmer, their eyes swiveling to take everything in, walked along the path between the school building, drawn in by the calls; they (E: Yoshino and Yumi) could seem them walking this way.

"They seem like some kind of special existence."

Yumi couldn't express her thoughts. One was not likely to see people like that working in a municipal office, bank or at a school.

"I've never seen such a style so close up."

Yumi's shoulders were grabbed from behind. In other words, Yoshino-san, the person who spoken, had moved from her position and was hiding behind Yumi, muttering. Her voice trembled a little.

"Like in that late-night hero movie, when the main skinhead actor twirls a sword around and cuts up the rival gang leader...don't you think the other one looks just like a gang leader? Then the gang leader, with all his strength, pulls out a hidden pistol and places on shot in the skinhead's back. The end."

"What movie is that?"

"An old historical play, when I mistook the subscription channel. But, I've waited to see this for the first time." Yoshino-san reasoned. 'It's frightening, but in some way I'm pleased,' just so. The two lead actors.

"Oh no, they are coming this way. What should we do, they'll start firing guns."

"Wait a second. You're confusing this with a movie. Yakuza enemies aren't likely to appear together as companions at a school festival."

"You don't understand. This is a raid on our group...." (E: Yohsino uses the word "gumi" which is wjhat their classes are called "Matsu-gumi" but it can also related to a gang.)

"That's a different type of group."

Yoshino's response appeared to be very severe. That movie.

There weren't any others like them here, and they didn't seem to be aware of the fact that their existence here was frightening the girls, these two who looked just like they were in a movie about honor, and who had finally reached the entrance to "Fujimatsu Village."

After a fleeting glance into the middle, they came up to Yumi and Yoshino, as if they had come to a compromise, their mouths opening roundly.

"Two frankfurters and—"

"Japanese sword!?" Yoshino-san shouted.

(E: The first line is "Frankufuruto *Nippon to*, which means "two long things and" but is misheard by the overstimulated Yoshino as *Nippon tou* which means "Japanese sword.")

"And then, two plates of oden. Ah, does the oden also have tofu ?"

"A gun, too?"

(E: Same joke, different weapon. The guy says *ganmo aru?* . Ganmo is fried tofu with sliced vegetables. Yoshino, in her hysteria hears *gaan mo,* "a gun, too.")

Again, Yoshino-san. Over-reacting to each response was bad for business and could be seen by the surrounding people who might repeat it.

"Pull yourself together, Yoshino-san. Give him two tickets each for frankfurters and oden already."

Yumi-san reached into whatever different world Yoshino-san had gone to, took her by the shoulder and brought her back, then served the customers too or they would not be free to leave.

"Please excuse our rudeness. Um, the oden does not have tofu in it. Just whatever was in the pack, was what we decided. ...Um, excuse me?"

The skinhead was staring at Yoshino-san. He was much more interested in her than in the oden.

"You're called Yoshino-san. I mean, you are Shimazu Yoshino-san?" The skinhead said.

"Wah! Since when do you know my name?" This is not good, Yoshino-san looked like she was going to bolt.

"Hahaha, Yoshino-san is a very funny person. ...I understand. Then, you must be Yumi-san, right."

"Ah, yeah."

At which point Yumi thought, "where have I seen this person before?" Not on TV, she reasoned. She didn't watch that kind of movie.

(Um-mm.)

Not from straight on. Maybe about a month or so ago. At that time, he wasn't wearing the sunglasses or this kind of fashion. But he didn't lose out on that kind of impact.

"Ah." A priest running holding a bag.

"You're Shimako-san's father!"

"So you remember. Thank you for all your kindness towards my daughter."

"It's my pleasure. Actually, she just took off ahead of you...."

"No, really? After we returned home after the Sports festival, I received quite a scolding from Shimako. Because this is a Catholic school, I am supposed to take greater care with my secular appearance when I come. So I've reversed vectors and changed my style."

Too much, Yumi murmured in her heart. If she saw this outfit, Shimako-san would grab her head. She was very fortunate that her shift was over and she wasn't here.

"This is Shimura-san. He takes his coordination hints from television." Shimako-san's father introduced the "gang leader" next to him.

"Shimura-san...you say. No way."

The old guy called Shimura-san said, "Yes." And flashed Yumi a peace sign. "Thank you for your kindness towards my girlfriend Noriko-chan."

"...It's my pleasure."

The imagined Takuya-kun who was Noriko-chan's boyfriend was nothing at all like this Takuya-kun.


5

"Good job."

Yumi sort of whispered to her classmates as she snuck out of the Fujimatsu Village. Because it was time for a change of shift, she should have been able to go without hesitation but, because Yoshino-san had said "excepting the play, the plan is that we will be here," she was more or less slipping away as if she was going to the toilet.

That Yoshino-san.

"Yumi-san, what are you doing afterward? Do you have a promise with Sachiko-sama?"

"Onee-sama said that she's working for her class until one o'clock. Therefore I'm just going to walk around the area slowly for thirty minutes. That way I'll be able to see Sachiko-sama's class's display, and we hope that we'll be able to go see Touko-chan's play together, that's the plan at least."

"Wakakusa Monogatari" began at 1:30 PM, "Torikaebaya Monogatari" at half past three. In between the two plays was the "Petite Music Festival," which was a concert program that included the chorus club, the light music club and the mandolin club (E: HAH! I've been waiting for a weird club to be mentioned. There's 400 students in the high school - how many could possibly play the mandolin?!? You need five people to start a club. That makes at minimum, just over 1% of the High School students who play a mandolin. I'm just sayin'.) which would give them enough time to get to the green room after they had seen it.

"I have a date with Rei-chan. We're meeting at the Sakuratei. Ah, if you'd like, until Sachiko-sama's shift, why don't you have some tea with us? Feel free to say no. Because there's a lot to see from the invention club, the art club or the handicrafts club.

You tell me it's a date, then want to know if we can go together.

"You and Sachiko-sama are going to look at the Photography Club?"

"Mm. Tsutako-san wants to take 'a picture in front of the panel' that she took last year."

"Good grief. Well, see you later."

In order for Yoshino-san to go to the Sakuratei, she took the short path to the school buildings and entered the emergency entrance. Yumi, not sure where to go, just walked randomly along the side of the school building, when someone came flying out of one of the side roads.

"B, be careful!"

"Kya-"

It seemed that her shoulder had been knocked, so she was turned this way. Yumi put her hands on their hips to return their feet to the ground and help them regain balance.

"Excuse me, I'm sorry."

As the momentum passed away, the person looked confusedly at Yumi as she ran into her. It was a girl the same age as her.

Are you unhurt? Because, it's my fault, I was hurrying."

"I'm fine. I'm only staggered, but didn’t fall down. More importantly, how about you."

Yumi looked at the legs that stuck out from the knit skirt. There were many wounds that came from branches.

"Ah, these are just scratches."

"But, you might start to bleed. I'll take you to the doctor's office."

"That's okay. Don't worry."

The girl grinned, and before Yumi could advise it, wiped the dirt from her skirt. She has sad that she was in a rush, so would leading her or detaining her be more trouble.

She was swiveling her head back and forth looking around.

"Where is the oden?"

"Eh? Oden--? The oden is...there. Ahead." Even as she answered, she thought, "why oden now?" and inclined her head.

The reason she was in a rush was related to oden? The only thing that would satisfy her hunger was oden, this was an absolute necessity? Or was a person on shift at the oden booth someone she knew? --For a little while, this all rolled around in Yumi's head.

However, although it was the situation that this person here was in a rush, when she asked more deeply, she had been asked to point out the way to Fujimatsu Village.

"Um...the oden is ahead?"

"Yes."

"Is that so. ...expected."

As if she were saying to herself, "unexpected" she nodded slightly "Thanks. Well, then" and walked off towards her target.

(E: this was a bit difficult to translate. The girl says "Gai ni". "Unexpected is "igai" and "gai ni" means "to the outside." I only point this out, because in a second, it'll be repeated, so when I used "...expected" read "gai ni".)

"Stalls from a village fair. ...expected." Because it had been muttered, she wasn't sure that that's what had been said but, she thought so as she went running by; more importantly, she went into the school building to wash her dirty hands. It didn’t matter today if she used the normal entrance used by visitors, or not.

As soon as she had entered, from the middle of some people inside came "Yumi-chan" called out.

"Wah, Youko-sama, Sei-sama!"

It was a set of the previous Rosa Chinensis and Rosa Gigantea. And weren't they lovely.

"I'm sorry that I've neglected to stay in contact. I'm happy that you've come." Rushing over to the two, she hopped up and down excitedly.

"Thank you for the invitation. We've made it despite all obstacles." Why would they say that, as if Red and White were acting as one color.

"What about Eriko-sama?"

The two shared a glance.

"We've been asked to tell you that it's become just the two of us."

"The impression of the three of us a trio would be stronger, that's all."

The two muttered as if they were fed up with something. Since they had arrived, they had probably been asked about "Eriko-sama," "Eriko-sama."

"It's become just the two of you? Then, originally Eriko-sama was going to come?"

"Bzzt. Wrong. We came with Yuuko-chan." Sei-sama said, as if she were the emcee of a quiz show informing her of an incorrect answer.

"Yuuko-chan?"

"Mm. She entered ahead of us, but when we took our eyes off her for a moment, she ran off.

"Yuuko-chan, you say."

It looked like Sei-sama has befriended a cat again. And yet, Yuuko-chan seemed like a terribly human like name to dump on something she just met.

"Ah." Youko-sama, who had been silent as though she was thinking, said, as if the light bulb had gone off.

"I understand. I was thinking that Yuuko-chan reminded me of someone but, it was Yumi-chan. Not in her looks, just the general attitude. Ah-, I feel better."

"...That, doesn't really make me happy, though." Her equal was a cat.

But Youko-sama just said, "Is that right?" She didn't seem too anxious to put up a fence between living things.

"Yumi-chan, are you going to Sachiko's class?"

"Ah, I'll take you there." This way, she was saying, it was just about time for the shift change, when the thing jumped into Yumi's view.

"Ah. This...!" The light bulb over her head passed and with a shot a great deal of strength flowed out from it. As Yumi pointed, her knees crumbled.

"That person before wasn't looking for oden--"

--O-denwa. The phone.

(The phone doesn't need the "o" added to it.)

The green phones that took cards were set up in front of the office.




Dramatics


1

"Eh? She's not here? Isn't it her shift?"

The two OGs (E:Old Girls, alumna) had arrived at Sachiko-sama's classroom, but Sachiko-sama wasn't to be seen.

"Earlier, one of the health care staffers came by and lead her away."

The student from third-year Matsu Class explained to Yumi, then she saw the two former Rosas behind her and bowed her head with an "Ah, welcome."

"A Heath Care staffer. Then, Sachiko-sama was taken to the Infirmary?"

"Well, I'm not sure. Just then I was running around, so I don't remember. Ah, no one had a "don’t worry, everything will be fine" face. In fact, Sachiko-san didn't look like there was anything wrong with her, more like, Eiko-sensei had called for her, that sort of thing?"

"Huh." Sachiko-sama's class, third-year Matsu class's theme was "A Delicious Test of Strength."

In this, although there was a sense of testing one's strength, a fun world of sweets opened up in front of you.

For instance.

Like the "Vertical Jump" that was a wall that one jumped up to grab sticks of toffee.

Or, in the "Repetition Sideways Jump" you were given chocolate according to your results.

Or, in the "Upper Body Bend" a person received a pastry the same length as far as they could bend. That kind of thing.

It was counterproductive for the fathers who worried about becoming fat, but for the children it was welcome.

"I wanna try, I wanna try." That lover of fun things, Sei-sama, bit immediately. She pulled on Youko-sama's arm who, with an "Okay," entered the classroom. As if to say, until Sachiko-sama returned to the room, we might as well.

When the invitation came, "Yumi-chan you compete too," Yumi rolled up her sleeves.

First of all, the three of them lined up in the Repetition Sideways Jump corner where there was no one waiting.

"Is this okay, then, go...."

When the timer called out "Start!" she began jumping from side to side. Tatatan, tatatan, back and forth over the white tape that had been laid over the floor.

However, just as soon as she started, her own rhythm was interrupted by another sound of steps coming into the "Delicious Test of Strength" classroom.

"Kanako-chan?" She asked thoughtfully, as her own steps stopped.

"Y, Yumi-sama."

Kanako-chan, who had just come, was surprised to find Yumi there. But, shortly,
"Excuse me, please join us." and with the three wandered randomly around to the Repetition Sideways Jump, where everyone's feet had already stopped, one more person to begin jumping sideways.

"What's the matter?"

"I was being chased." At those words, from behind, the sound of running footsteps could be heard going down the hall.

"Please. Pretend to not know."

Kanako-chan began to jump sideways desperately. Was she trying to make her tall stature unobtrusive for a little while, because the position is the waist dropped and the head kept down, so the posture for the repeated sideways jump was pretty tight.

"We won't set a record, but, can I join you?" Sei-sama restarted along with Kanako-chan, so Yumi did, as well. Youko-sama squeezed in to make it four.

The chaser reduced their speed in front of the classroom, and ran away again after a quick glance inside. Because she had said, "Please pretend to not know" none of them looked up, but as soon as that person had left the entrance, the looked after her to see if they could confirm who it was.

"Oden..." At the same moment Yumi spoke, Youko-sama saw the person and said,
"Yuuko..." Sei-sama, who had been seriously doing the Repetition Sideway Jump, seems to have missed the "Yuuko." Instead, Kanako-chan leapt out of the Repetition Sideway Jump to confirm, and after it was over, whispered to Yumi "That girl" in a soft voice "Is a ghost on my back."

"You saved me." Kanako-chan thanked them and made to leave the classroom, Yumi called out to stop her.

"What happened?"

"Just a person that I don't want to meet up with. Then, when I ran off, she chased me."

"Whu..." Why don't you want to meet her, were the words she swallowed. That was probably a great kindness.

At that moment, Sachiko-sama returned to the classroom.

"...Kanako-chan, why are you here?"

Sachiko-sama upon looking into the room before she saw Youko-sama or Sei-sama, much less Yumi, immediately stepped up directly before Kanako-chan.

"Please come with me."

"Huh? Where?"

"To the Infirmary."

"Why?"

Just like Kanko-chan, Yumi also had the questions "Why?" "What happened?" popping like soap bubbles around her head.

"We'll discuss the on the way. Yumi, you come too."

At which Youko-sama stepped up from behind in front of Sachiko-sama.

"Onee-sama."

"Looks like you're in the middle of something, huh."

"Excuse me. I'm very pleased that you have come, but I am running around."

"Please don't worry. We also have some things to do. ...We shall meet again afterwards."

Sei-sama repeated, "We have something to do?" but Youko-sama only smiled. Taking Sei's hand, she left the classroom.

Sachiko-sama, Kanako-chan and Yumi; the three headed down the hallway, when they could see Touko-chan a little in front of them.

"Tou..."

Yumi lifted her hand, about to call out, when Touko-chan abruptly turned her head to one side and ran off.

(I thought she was looking this way. But I guess she didn't notice.)

Because that way connected with the gymnasium, maybe she was just rushing off to begin preparing for "Wakakusa Monogatari." Yumi thought this, watching as Touko-chan's form became smaller.

"A little while ago, I was called by Hoshina-sensei." Sachiko-sama said as they walked.

"She told me that my father came to the Infirmary. Therefore, I was told to go meet him. Those words were transmitted to me from the Health staffer who came to get me. Don't you think that's strange?

"Eh? Tooru-ojisama is here?" Yumi asked. If that was so, then was Sayako-obasama here too? But, Sachiko-sama was saying something different.

"My father decided that he had to go to New York suddenly the day before yesterday, I told her, he left from Narita Airport yesterday afternoon."

From Narita to New York, how long does that take, Yumi wondered. If he turned right around and came back, was there any possibility that he could be here?

"Because I thought that there must be some mistake, I went to the Infirmary to see. As I expected, it was the wrong person. That person was not my father."

"But, then why did they call you?"

"Hoshina-sensei made a mistaken assumption. That person who wanted to meet his daughter had a ticket with my name on the reverse, which is where the misunderstanding occurred.

"Eh-."

For every problem answered there was a new puzzle. Why was another student's father holding one of Sachiko-sama's tickets? Just so, Sachiko-sama smiled.

"I think that this time, I'm going to have to put the fear of God into Suguru-san."

"Suguru-san, you say. So the criminal is Kashiwagi-san!?"

"Yes."

It appears that, with his usual characteristic, he had transferred a ticket without permission. Really, what had he done?

"I was a little surprised. While Hoshina-sensei was waiting in front of the Infirmary, she said that my real little sister had come to talk. I thought it might be Yumi, but I was told that it was not. If it were a child my father had hidden, I would know at a glance. Don't you think that that was bad for the heart?"

Kanako-chan, who had listened to the conversation silently, came to a sudden stop. The Infirmary was three meters away.

"What's the matter, Kanako-chan?" Sachiko-sama asked quietly. But Kanako-chan did not answer.

But she did not have a "nothing's wrong" face. Her face had a serious expression as if she was brooding over something.

"No way." Instead Yumi, murmurmed.

"Yes, Yumi. Inside, is Kanako-chan's father."

Kanako-chan's father, she said.

"Eh-!"

That was a seriously unexpected thing that she said. At the time she had returned to the classroom and had seen Kanako-chan, she had looked surprised, but now that she had heard this story, she now understood, "I see."

Sachiko-sama stood directly in front of Kanako-chan.

"Kanako-chan. It would have been pointless for me to tell you to go meet him. Therefore, I will interfere here. If you feel inclined at all to meet him, then let your will take you inside. If you do not want to meet him, it is fine if you turn and go back. But, such an opportunity is a rare thing, you must remember. Living separately, you don't know when you might meet again. Perhaps, you might go your whole life without seeing him. At that time, saying that you regret it will be too late."

That was the meddling here. It would be pointless to tell you to meet him. --As Sachiko-sama said that, she was indirectly saying, "meet him," That was just enough meddling and not like advice, Yumi thought.

"It's like putting a futon on the gravestone, that way."

Sachiko-sama sighed heavily.

Standing there silently, Kanako-chan's mouth opened. "Why is Father in the Infirmary? Is something wrong?"

"Well. I don't know. Hoshina-sensei told me that he's in the Infirmary with a very pale face. Borrowing the bed for a moment."

Upon hearing that he had a pale face, Kanako-chan flew into the Infirmary.

"Father."

Watching this with a pleased expression, Sachiko-sama grinned at Yumi and said, "It wasn't quite a lie."


2

"Kanako...?"

Kanako-chan's father was not sleeping in the bed. When Kanako-chan came flying into the room, he was sitting in a chair pulled out in front of Hoshina Eiko-sensei's desk, in the middle of a consultation. In other words, he was in the best of health.

However, even sitting in the chair, he was extremely tall. As expected, Yumi thought, of Kanako-chan's father.

"F, Father, you're the worst."

Was she angry because she had been lied to and thought that he was feeling bad and resting, but found him sitting here coolly? Or was it to cover her embarrassment and confusion? Whatever the reason, the first thing that came out of her open mouth was the abusive "you're the worst" to her father.

"Kanako-chan, we'll be here." Though they had both stepped into the Infirmary, at the same time, the Chinensis sisters returned to the hallway outside. As expected from Sachiko-sama, who could not have predicted that this situation would come to this point.

"It's fine. I'd like both of you to listen, please. What kind of terrible person this Father is." Kanako-chan said while looking at her father.

"But."

"Yes."

Her father was watching her as she spoke, lowering his head, as if he was either preparing for the worst, or saying, "Go ahead and say it." However, being called "the worst" by the daughter you haven't seen in a while, what on earth....

"This person," Kanako-chan said. "I don't know if you know, but he was with the Japanese national basketball team, and he clings to his long gone glory, living in his dreams. When he lived together with us, while Mother ran around from morning until night, he laid around the house. Once in a while, when a junior of his was promoted, he would act all proud, as if he were the coach, lengthening out his hobby."

Kanako-chan rattled all this off at once, then took a deep breath while glaring at her father.

"You objected?"

"...Mm. That's correct."

Was that really correct? Yumi thought. Whatever you want to call it, Kanako-chan was now just enumerating her father's faults. This was not the cause of her antipathy towards men.

But. Nowadays, many couples had husbands doing the domestic chores, and women working outside the home. Moreover, if a husband was staying home taking care of the household, could you say that he was lying around; that's kind of rough to say about only men. Maybe saying that you can see a dream is another way of keeping that dream. Maybe becoming a coach would have saved that person.

"Yes. Every night my mother would escape by drinking, and when I began to grow, if I didn't say my lines for the play right, all fathers become hateful."

"Um, Hosokawa-san. Why do you say that all fathers are at fault?"

Eiko-sensei tried to calm her, although it was counterproductive. Kanako-chan walked back and forth, the ratatat of her feet against the wood an expression of her anger.

"All of them, all fathers are hateful."

In a moment, everything became silent. As if Kanako-chan's anger robbed everyone of words.

"Mm. Father is hateful." Kanako-chan's father said heavily.

"It's as Kanako said, all fathers are hateful."

Why would that be? As if that were some kind of magic spell, Kanako-chan's expression collapsed.

"Kanako-chan?"

"But, I," Kanako-chan muttered, looking like she would cry. "But, I understand. Mother worked because it was her raison d'etre. She didn't want to have to retire to take care of children, she said, and she requested that you stay home to do that. Mother threw father out of the house because of stress from work. If you had stayed together, you'd have only hurt each other; you had to put distance between you.

Huh. So, why was it that Kanako-chan was trying to avoid her father?

"I love Father. Tall stature, skillful at basketball. When he was our middle school basketball team temporary coach, it made me happy to be able to seem him every week, even when Mother was spiteful about it. I had so much pride that you were my father."

That was the kind of thing one expected from a parent and child, Yumi thought then. But Kanako-chan's eyes suddenly went cold as ice and said "But."

"But for what Father did to Yuuko-sempai, I will never forgive you."

Yuuko. Ah, today that name seems to be going around any number of times.

"Getting her pregnant against her will, forcing her to leave high school. It had been her dream to play professional basketball, but because of Father, she had to let that go."

Wah, suddenly rushing into such a dreadfully serious conversation. As expected, next to Yumi, Sachiko stiffened.

"Wait a second."

As Kanako-chan abused her father, that enemy of girls, in the school infirmary, a voice called out for her to stop.

"All fathers are hateful but, let me correct the by force part."

"Liar. Yuuko-sempai totally hated men. When she was in middle school she was always saying "I don't need a man." Half a year after we graduated, nothing could have changed, so you must have done something."

In other words, put the doubt of it being against her will aside. Kanako-chan's father did something to Kanako-chan's middle school sempai, that sempai had had a child and had to leave school, that she couldn't do basketball at the same time, was what was being said. And that her name is Yuuko.

"Ask Yuuko." Kanako-chan's father said.

"I did ask. When you wanted to be divorced from Mother, I couldn't believe it so I went to the source. When I went to meet Yuuko-sempai, she was crying. Not because she was embarrassed, but because you had caused her life to become unbearable. Isn't that true?"

"You're wrong."

A voice suddenly called out from behind them. Yumi and Sachiko, concentrating on the quarrel between parent and child in front of them, no one had noticed that another person had entered the Infirmary.

"Kanako. I'm sorry. This was all a misunderstanding."

Turning around, there stood the girl who had been looking for the "odenwa" previously. How did she end up being accompanied by Youko-sama and Sei-sama? I see, Yuuko was this girl. --So, not a cat.

Oden(wa)-san aka Yuuko the cat aka Yuuko-san smiled at Kanako-chan with a "It's been a while," then spoke to Kanako-chan's father.

"I'm sorry. I wanted to tell you that I had gotten into the school, but I couldn't find a pay phone."

"Wah, as I guessed." Yumi looked down.

"You say I'm wrong, but where was I wrong?" Kanako-chan looked at Yuuko-san coldly.

"I wonder if it's okay to tell you from where."

Slowly moving in front of Kanako-chan, Yuuko-san began to talk heavily.

"Right after I entered High School, my leg was injured in a traffic accident. I had a complete recovery but, the doctor told me that it would be better if I stopped basketball."

Yuuko-san consulted with the team advisor and was offered the opportunity "how about becoming the manager?"

"Even without the injury, it would have been difficult to become a regular I was told. That hurt a fair bit. But, that was the way it was. Even if I left behind no more than middle school results, when I got to High School, I would become a skillful person. But I didn't grow tall. Maybe there would be an opportunity, but I wasn't being objective. But, I was chasing after the ball. I don't know why he understood, but the one person who worried about me at the time was. You know, Coach Hosokawa. ...Kanako, remember your father. In the past, when a player's body was broken, they'd become a coach, but he understood my feelings. He noticed, and he called--"

And from there, the two would meet. --That was Yuuko-san's explanation.

They all understood the proffered information. With the exception of the person concerned, that is, Kanako-chan. In other words, Yumi and Sachiko-sama and Youko-sama and Sei-sama and Eiko-sensei, if this conversation about another family's concerns had come to their ears, would have looked at the situation at "what to do" with frankness. But upon coming here, they could do nothing but watch the situation develop. Thought they might be able to leave the Infirmary quietly, the contents of this story were too serious; they hesitated to make any noise.

Yuuko-san continued.

"You weren't wrong, you could say, about me getting pregnant and having to leave High School. That was painful for you, Kanako-chan. It has the same taste as my past, that Kanako-chan is made to taste suffering when her father is taken away by another woman. That kind of thing makes a person sob in lament. I think that two years younger than me Kanako-chan is very cute. Cute like a real little sister to me. But, idiot that I am, more than I can express, I fell in love with your father."

"Fell in love?" Kanako-chan repeated these words, as if they were in a mysterious language.

"Yes. Fell in love. Therefore, Please forgive your father, since this is my fault." Yuuko-san took one deep breath.

"At that time, it was necessary to run away without saying anything. Kanako-chan's father was so wonderful, I fell in love. Even if you don't forgive me, even if you hate me, I can't not tell you anymore."

And then she embraced Kanako-chan. "I'm sorry, Kanako-chan."

"Yuuko-sempai, Yuuko-sempai." The tall Kanako-chan held the short Yuuko-san and cried.

Sob, sob, sniffle sniffle. While the two held each other, the other five women quietly wiped tears from their cheeks.

"Wahhh---" Suddenly, the sound came pouring out, as if from the depths, ringing in the Infirmary. Watching this, Kanako-s father stood up to his full height, tears flowing.

Wow. A full-grown man crying like a child. A little surprised, Yumi found tears being pulled from her.

"Father, stop, it's unbecoming."

"Mm, mm. You're right." Kanako-chan's father agreed, trying desperately to smile. But them his tearful voice continued. "Uwaaaaah"

But, why? Kanako-chan's father was barely crying. So---.

Everyone looked at each other.

"This is no good, I forgot." Kanako-chan's father rushed over to the screen. And the other women around clearly seemed by the looks on their faces to have some understanding.

"Is there someone in the bed?"

Yumi, who didn't have any understanding, asked the question of no one in particular, but soon had the answer in front of her eyes, when it came out to the side of the screen. Kanako-chan's father appeared with a not quite one-year-old baby in his arms.


"We came here earlier to change her diaper but, it made her feel pleasant, so she fell asleep. Really, you scared Father, waking up crying."

Now that Father held the baby, it calmed down, and with tears still streaming down its cheeks, it smiled brightly. It somehow resembled Kanako-chan.

"Chikako. Spelled like 'next child'." (E: And Yumi thinks that *she* has pathetic naming sense?)

"Chikako." As she said the name, Kanako-chan hesitantly touched the face of her own sister.

"Go on and hold her." Yuuko-san took Chikako from her father, holding her out to Kanko-chan.

"Impossible."

"It's all right. Her neck is soft, so she can't hold herself up. You understand, just support her with your hand."

As Kanako-chan timidly presented her hands, Yumi felt a tap on her shoulder. Looking up, Sachiko-sama's eyes signaled, "Let's go." Youko-sama, Sei-sama and Eiko-sempai had already left the Infirmary. Those who were not part of the family wanted to give those four some room.

Mm, that's nice. Thinking that, Yumi left the Infirmary behind her.

Holding the door, she turned toward a completely different world. In the hallway, students and guests were, naturally, going this way and coming that way. Right. Today was the school festival.

"Okay then. Where are we headed?" Sei-sama gave an extended nod.

"It's still about an hour and a half before—" Youko-sama muttered, trying to pull herself together.

"Oh no. 'Wakakusa Monogatari'!"

Um, from the Infirmary it was easy to get to the gymnasium. In the middle of her small fit of panic, Sachiko-sama pointed directly ahead down the hall, which they faced, as she said, "Go ahead of us. We'll follow after you."

Onee-sama looked like a statue of an administrator she thought fondly, as she answered "Yes."

"Ah, Eiko-sensei. Please tell Kanako-chan not to be late for the "Torikaebaya Monogatari." Well then."

Ahead of the teachers and the Student Council President, Yumi ran down the hall. Which is to say, that because of the large amount of people, she really couldn't go with speed.

"Why is Yumi-chan is such a rush?" From behind, she could hear Youko-sama's voice.

"One of the first-years who assisted the Yamayurikai is acting in the Drama Club's play." Sachiko-sama's answer was a little softer. Because she was leaving them behind, of course, but, she could clearly hear the next line.

"Ah, that electric drill, huh?"

-- Calling her an electric drill. That was mean, Sei-sama.


3


Touko-chan's Amy was magnificent.

The Drama Club's "Wakakusa Monogatari" was a huge success, and they were called for many encores. However, it wasn't just her, there were many people involved who were asked to come out, so why did it seem as if the huge applause was thanking her.

"Stop making that "we're done" face. We still have our play to do." Sachiko-sama said, when they met up again at the entrance of the gymnasium, when the curtain had gone down.

"Yes. We'll work hard so we won't lose." When it was noticed that she was saluting, Onee-sama smiled as if to say, "That's enough."

"Now that the play is over, let's walk around the school festival. When the incident with Kanako-chan occurred, I had wanted to take a peek at the Photography Club's exhibit."

Wah, a date.

"I'd like to go to Sakuratei."

"That sounds good."

"Onee-sama, please allow me to buy you some coffee and cake."

"No."

"Eh-"

"Because I was told that we should go ahead and use these tickets."

In thanks for sampling the food the other day, she said, a number of tickets were left with her. Sachiko-sama smiled, fluttering two tickets.

***

"What the heck."

Arm in arm, they rushed towards the green room now. However, although there were several of the cast of "Wakakusa Monogatari" remaining inside, two people were being bathed in attention.

"Ah, excuse me." Amazed, Yumi moved towards a corner, looking around the green room. Although there wasn't much time until the next play, neither Yoshino-san nor Shimako-san was there. Then her eye fixed upon a point.

In the back was Touko-chan.

Everyone was wearing similar costumes, but only there did the atmosphere have a palpable electric tingle. More than that, in the middle of this noise and fuss, when they entered, only one person turned around to look at them. When that person turned, it was absolutely then, that she could see it.

"Onee-sama." Yumi spoke to Sachiko-sama, who stood next to her, in a soft voice. "Is it all right if I come to the green room thirty minutes from now?"

Sachiko-sama was slightly surprised at the request, but shortly nodded silently.
"...That's fine."

"Thank you very much."

With a quick bow of gratitude, Touko-chan stood in the back. She could not have heard what was said, but seeing what passed between Sachiko-sama and Yumi, she somehow had understood.

***

"Touko-chan. Well done."

"You were late." Ah, coming in from the hallway, she looked at her rudely.

"Huh? You noticed? But, I made it before Touko-chan san said her last line."

As Yumi looked at her from all angles, Touko-chan escaped by walking around her.

"I need to change my clothes, please get out of my way."

Sheesh Touko-chan, trying to find the fastener on you back can't be easy when you're walking away. But when she stretched out her hand to help, she turned away with a "Don't touch me."

"Hey Touko-chan, when you get out of those clothes are you changing into the costume for 'Torikaebaya Monogatari'?"

"Of course...but?"

"I was just thinking that getting out of those clothes into your street clothes, then out of your street clothes into the 'Torikaebaya' costume would be a pain."

"What are you talking about?"

"Well. Don't you want to take a walk for a moment?"

"Huh?" For a second, Touko-chan's face went blank.

"Hey. You promised. You said you were going to guide me around the first-year Tsubaki class."

"N, now?"

"Yes. Sorry, but, this is the only time I have. In other words, I'm in your hands." Waiting for an answer, she took the zipper in her hand. Thankfully, it came down easily.

"Sachiko-oneesama." Pulling back her hand, Touko-chan cast a "save me" glance.

But Sachiko-sama said, "It's a shame, but, I guess you'll be back coming in twenty-five minutes. However, if you come one minute later, I won't forgive you."

"We have permission. Come on, hurry up."

"Where did that permission come from?" Touko-chan protested while being dragged out. She didn't understand. Sachiko-sama had given them genuine permission.

Upon leaving the changing room, Touko-chan stopped resisting at last. Maybe it was resignation, or maybe it was that she didn't want to be noticed raging about, because it was unbecoming.

"Hey, Yumi? Where are you going?"

About halfway down the hallway they ran into Yuuki, who was running in the opposite direction, calling out to his sister to stop.

"Yumi-san? Eh, Touko-chan too?"

Noriko-chan came walking up together with Shimako-san, their eyes large and round.

"We don't have time, later." She said to both, and without lessening her speed headed out to the school buildings.

Because Touko-chan was wearing an old doll-style dress, everywhere they went they drew people's eyes. What kind of performance is this, the people thought.

Right, where else had Yumi seen this kind of scene? Yumi thought about it as she ran. An old movie in which the lead ran away from the church with his bride. Although she couldn't see the scene properly, it was famous, she knew.

"Something about a promise."

And, although she wore a sulky expression, Amy didn't let go, and returned the grip on her hand with a squeeze.


4


The "Yamayurikai edition of 'Torikaebaya Monogatari'" came to a close with great chaos and loud laughter.

There was the comic performance by the Yakushiji brothers. Who repeatedly committed errors in where they were supposed to stand on the actual day. But those two were even more laugh inducing when, staff and actors went to open the curtains with all their might before anyone might notice, Sachiko-sama cleverly had them switch all their lines to fit the situation, and the skillful portrayal by the Fukuzawa siblings became unskillful as they had to launch themselves across the stage to make adjustments.

Because of that, as their appearance on stage drew near, the two lead actors went on stage at something resembling a dash, after which, the scene diverged considerably from what they had practiced and kept on doing so.

In that case, the origin of the mayhem, the Yakushijis, to the very end were unable to be told apart.

"In your appearance scene, why did you two hurry so much?"

"Now that you mention it, Yuukichi seemed out of breath."

"...."

What was with that envious personality? Excepting the Yakushiji brothers, everyone there thought so. But, people laughed at them more than anyone else, just for being in existence. It can't be helped, please forgive them.

After that, Prime Minister Yoshino-san trampled Princess Yuuki's skirt heavily, causing him to drop to the floor on his hands and knees.

And somewhere in the middle of the movement, something was thrown with a noise, so that Mikado Shimako-san, who was divided from them by a screen, finally stood up to see what was happening.

The Minister of the Right's mother, Takada-kun, kept saying "Mama is" for all his lines instead of "Mother," (since that was what was probably said in his family,) (E: He was saying "Mama" instead of "Haha") so the Minister of the Right's father, Touko-chan, couldn't really help it when she began to misrepresent "Papa" for
"Father" in an adlib --that kind of thing.

Well, although many things happened, and overall it was cluttered, and the audience didn't know whether it was a gag or was supposed to be happening, they watched it laughing. The parents who had come to see their sons and daughters on the stage said so, so there was no mistake.

Kanako-chan, in accordance with the rest of 'Torikaebaya Monogatari' didn't say her line "What beautiful children" well at all, but her expression looked to be a little bit brighter than any time previously. But it might just have been Yumi's wishful thinking, perhaps.

Afterwards, she did not ask about what the three of them had talked about. But, when they were making up in the changing room, Kanako-chan went to Noriko-chan and "I handed over the ticket properly" there was a nice feeling about it, even if she was interpreting this without permission.

"Hey, there's a call for encore." Rei-sama's voice drew everyone back out to the stage.

Kanako-chan's father and Yuuko-san and Chikako-chan were watching this play from somewhere, which was nice, she thought, and as she did so, in response to the applause that rang out, Yumi took her place in the spotlight and took a deep bow.


5

While the sound of crackling was in front of them, the flames reached up towards the heavens.

For something that was so long in the planning, the day of the school festival would soon be over and become another yesterday. Now that you mention it.

Looking back, it had been a very dense day or, you might say, a full day.

The contents of the day had been tightly packed, the sun had grown dark, one reaches all at once for a reaction, and although the words might be difficult, it was something like loneliness, or severed, something serious, one had to think.

In the middle of the grounds was the annual traditional bonfire.

She searched for the accordion she could hear. Someone singing with a guitar. A sorrowful mandolin.

In the area around the fire, girls danced in a circle. There, the festival wasn't over yet. Therefore, definitely, Yumi wanted to be inside that ring.

She was sitting on the embankment outside the track, absent-mindedly watching the flames of the bonfire swaying, from a distance.

What am I doing? What I want to do, she thought, even thought she wasn't, now.

"There you are, alone every year for the evening after festival." Tapping her on the shoulder so that she looked back, stood Sachiko-sama.

"...Every year, you say. Unexpectedly, both last year and this year were heavy."

"That's true. Then, what on earth are you doing?"

"It's fading into twilight." She was chewing well on that feeling of after-festival loneliness.

"But the time for twilight has already passed." Sachiko-sama said calmly, smoothing her skirt pleats over her knees. Apparently, she was accompanying her.

"Then, every year Onee-sama has to locate me."

"Am I interrupting?"

"No." Yumi shook her head. If it's Sachiko-sama, then fine. If it were not Sachiko-sama, then it would be no good.

The festival was over, the two of them watching the fire together, without a word. Although that was all, her heart was pounding hard.

At the festival, they had had tea at Sakuratei, had a memorial picture taken by the photography club, played in the "Fujimatsu Village, " walked around and looked at many classes and clubs, until they felt full. It was a kind of bliss.

It was like she wanted to be this way for a long time. However, she knew that that wasn't a wish that could be fulfilled.

As the night deepened, people started heading home. This moment was being cut off, and that could not be stopped.

Sachiko-sama broke the silence. "Yumi."

"Y, yes." Her heart leapt, and her shoulders moved up and down.

"What was that? Did I startle you?"

"No."

"I was thinking that I'd like to know how the first-year Tsubaki class was. Touko-chan was your tour guide, wasn't she?"

"Ah, that was really wonderful."

Taking a hint from first-year Tsubaki's class's Noriko-chan's Buddha statue mania, "Different religions similar sky" the exhibit was called, with the publishing of a report on the commonalities of Buddhism and Christianity.

"But, Touko-chan told me, more than Noriko-chan, it was their other classmates who became passionate about it. Afterwards, the discussion got so heated that an argument broke out, but in the end, it was really nice. The families and the teachers were all talking about it.

"I see. I wonder if I should have gone and seen it."

"Eh, you didn't go?" When they were walking around the festival, the absolutely could have gone to the first-year Tsubaki class, she thought.

"But, there was no way I had time to see everything. I think that it's fine that Yumi was able to see it." Sachiko-sama said whole-heartedly.

"Eh" Wah, this was bad. Something as trifling as this conversation was threatening to bring on tears. Yumi searched for words, confusedly. "Which reminds me, at the entrance there was a place to make a "jyuzurio" from beads, you'll be able to tell that Touko-chan made it right away. Look." (E: "Jyuzurio" is taken from the words "jyuzu" a Buddhist rosary, and "rosario" the Japanese pronunciation of rosary, taken, incidentally, from the Portuguese.)

Dropping her wrist so the bracelet came out, she held it out to Onee-sama. One could not have gotten into the first-year Tsubaki class without passing the entrance, where you could get these souvenirs. They looked like doll rosaries, but it didn't have a cross, and was long or short. The bracelet was the companion of the jyuzu or the rosary.

"Jyuzurio? Ah, I see."

There in a ring were large beads of red, white and yellow all lined up. In the part where there should be a cross on the real thing, were small beads making a red, white and yellow rose, tied together with green ribbon.

"It's incredibly fine...no, colorful, isn't it? That's it, it really stands out. Another person would have used beads of the same color, or maybe a gradation, but in the end, this is more of a shocking thing."

"Which reminds me, Shimako-san made one. It was very white and simple."

"Of course, Noriko-chan didn't make one, did she?"

"Something like that."

Laughing, Sachiko-sama returned the bracelet."Was Touko-chan pleased? That Yumi chose something she made herself."

"How would I know?"

Really, how would she know, from her attitude, she couldn't tell. When she took a bracelet that Touko-chan had made, she looked like she was angry. Then, when she took a different bracelet, her expression became corroded. It was cute, and it wasn't cute. How would she know, seriously.

"Yumi." Sachiko-sama stood.

"Yes" Suddenly, she was on guard.

"Can we walk, a little?"

"Y...yes."

After she answered, she followed. Although she would have liked to walk side by side, for some reason, she walked a half step behind.

A half step became a step, a step became two steps. Onee-sama, where on earth are you planning on going. Because she didn't know, somehow taking each step became harder.

As the hustle and bustle of the grounds moved farther away, the scenery changed to more and more trees.

"Yumi." Sachiko-sama looked back suddenly.

"Y, yes." She leapt forward again.

Sachiko-sama said, "You're being cautious about being my companion."

"Cautious, is that what it looks like I'm doing?"

Yumi didn't know herself, why she was being cautious. Just that, there was something in the air that onee-sama projected. That was what she thought.

"Either that, or you're frightened. What do you think I am going to do?"

"What, are you planning to do something?"

"Please don't answer my question with a question. I was just thinking that I wanted to walk together with you." Heaving a heavy sigh, Sachiko-sama walked ahead once more.

Wondering if she was just shocked, Yumi followed after. Onee-sama had said, "I wanted to walk together with you." She had never said that before.

When they came in front of the statue of Maria-sama, Sachiko-sama stopped, as if she was thinking about something, then asked Yumi. "Last year after the festival, we became soeur, it's been exactly one year, hasn't it? Perhaps, that's related to it?"

Only after it was pointed out, did Yumi sense the significance. Silently, as if she was judging Yumi, she placed her hands upon Yumi's shoulders.

"You are a strange girl. If I was going to do something, shouldn't you expect it to be something good?"

A whole shortcake floated into Yumi's mind.

"No way, you couldn't possibly be thinking that I was going to ask you for the rosary back, can you?"

"Yes. Something like that."

Probably, she had become scared of the day of the festival memory becoming something like her birthday memory, Yumi thought. The past year had been nice. But, if they celebrated this year, the memory of this fun year would be a fun thing as well, and next year's festival day might become painful. Therefore--

But, that wasn't what Onee-sama was saying. When she graduated, she would be unhappy. Even if she said that, it would only embarrass Onee-sama.

"Yumi, I..."

"Yes."

"Tonight, especially, I didn't intend to do anything." Sachiko-sama admitted slowly, like a child who has been admonished. "It's not that I forgot. Like your birthday, or White Day, when I had thought about doing something, but somehow never managed to do anything, I mean to say that this is different. Do you understand?"

Yumi shook her head back and forth.

"I mean that, for me, today isn't the only special day."

Today isn't the only special day. --Why did those words glitter so?

"But, tomorrow and the day after, nothing will change that Yumi is my little sister, until now and from now on. Why, should we limit it to only one year? For me, today isn't a special day; nothing has changed since yesterday, in one day."

"Ah..."

Sachiko-sama's words fell sparkling into Yumi's heart. Since she first accepted it, from then until now, she had known what she wanted most.

"I wonder if you can understand the meaning of what I say."

Yumi nodded hugely this time. "The scales have peeled off my eyes, and tears are coming out."

"Silly."

What should she do, the tears wouldn't stop.

Happiness, sadness, remoteness, thankfulness, love, loneliness, many, many feelings ixed together, and which of these the tears were she didn't know, but they came one after the other.

Yumi clung to Sachiko-sama.

Because Sachiko had begun to cry, there was no way she could hold back. Not to say that it was Onee-sama's fault. She didn't mind.

Yumi was Sachiko-sama's only little sister. Therefore, it was fine. She monopolized her. Keeping her distance from everyone else.

After holding her for a little while, Sachiko-sama separated their bodies, and looked Yumi straight in the face.

"Yumi." She said. "Take a soeur."

"Eh...."

Sachiko-sama lied.

She had said that today wasn't special, just another day, another day with the soeur she had taken a year ago, but had passed over a problem that was by no means simple to Yumi.


The End


Afterword

Konno Oyuki tells us a little story about a day when both Yumi and Sachiko are sitting on the school roof, skipping class a bit, on a bright clear day in the spring. Sachiko comments that it's peaceful and Yumi watches a plane fly by. The wind rustles their skirts.

That was the image she had for the title of the novel.

Tags: Maria-sama ga Miteru, Marimite, Tokubestsu Denai Tada no Ichihi